How Can I Overcome the Shame of Sinning and Move Forward in Faith?

When I was a teenager, every time I did something wrong, I’d begin to feel condemned by God. I would be ashamed and felt I’d lost favor with God and as a result, I would stop speaking to God. It’s as if, I was too ashamed to talk to God and felt that He would not listen to me until I did better. I was acting as though my righteousness was upholding my relationship with God. So really, I didn’t go to God after I had "sinned" because I needed to redeem myself. I was my own redeemer so, of course, I felt I couldn’t measure up to even approach God.

After deciding to follow Christ in my adulthood, I slowly began to fall into the same behaviors. When I fell into sin, I’d think that I had to earn my way back into his arms. But the Holy Spirit taught me that I will never earn my way to God if not only through Jesus. He is my redeemer and the one who reconciles me with God. Does this mean that I should get comfortable sinning since Jesus already paid the price? Probably not. What it means is that we will never measure up such that we earn salvation.

The bible says that we are saved by the grace of God and not by our own doing, so we cannot boast of our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet, we understand that true faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer is evidenced by works (James 2). I like to think of it like this: I have faith that this seat I am sitting on will not break and hold my body up and this faith is evidenced by my decision to sit without hesitation. Similarly, when we believe that Jesus is our Savior, we live with a sense of freedom and gratitude because we know that He is our Source. and we don't have to live a condemned life.

So, if you’ve sinned in any way don’t let that keep you from God. Consider David, a man after God’s heart, not because he was perfect but because when he sinned, he went to the Source in humbleness and honesty. He understood that his relationship with God would not survive if it depended on him. So he asked God for a new heart, and 10 times out of 10 that’s exactly what we need, a heart change, before anything else.

Don't try and be your own savior; cling to Him, your only source, and stop depending on your own strength to save you and remember there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8).

Psalm 51

by David

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

💛 Luce